Smoking Ban In Public Places & Workplaces
Scotland
Smoking is not allowed in the majority of enclosed public places in Scotland, including surgery premises. The ban applies to everyone (i.e. staff and patients).
Failure to comply with the law is a criminal offence - smokers can be fined £50, and the person responsible for the premises can be fined £200. It is also an offence to fail to display the proper 'no smoking' signs.
Practice action
Practices are required to display No Smoking signs and should have a Smoking Policy. Subscribers to the Members section of this website can download a draft Smoking (Staff) Policy and a draft Smoking (Patients & Public) Policy -
More information: Scottish Executive guidance on the no smoking legislation (including downloadable posters to display in the workplace) -
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Wales
A ban on smoking in public places and workplaces came into effect on 2nd April 2007. To conform to the legislation, Practices must display a sign at or near each entrance which must:
Be at least 160mm x 230mm
Display a 'No Smoking' Symbol
Contain the bi-lingual statement:
'Mae ysmygu yn y fangre hon yn erbyn y gyfraith'
'It is against the law to smoke in these premises'
Practice action
Practices must also have a Smoking Policy. Subscribers to the Members section of this website can download a draft Smoking (Staff) Policy and a draft Smoking (Patients & Public) Policy -
More information including details of the required location and size of signs, plus downloadable signs: smokingbanwales
N. Ireland
A ban on smoking in public places and workplaces came into effect on 30th April 2007.
More information including details of the required location and size of signs, plus downloadable signs: Space to Breathe
Practice action
Practices will be required to display No Smoking signs and must also have a Smoking Policy. Subscribers to the Members section of this website can download a draft Smoking (Staff) Policy and a draft Smoking (Patients & Public) Policy -
England
A total ban on smoking in all enclosed or substantially enclosed* workplaces and public places came into force at 6am on 1st July 2007. The legislation also covers vehicles which are used for business purposes by more than one person. Places which are not covered by the smokefree legislation are private homes, residential care homes, hospitals, prisons and hotel bedrooms.
*An enclosed place is defined as having a ceiling or roof and, apart from windows and doors, has walls or sides enclosing it. A substantially enclosed place is defined as having a ceiling or roof, and walls or sides that enclose more than 50% of it.
There are three new offences:
smoking in no-smoking premises
permitting people to smoke in no-smoking premises
failing to display the required non-smoking signs
Employers are responsible for notifying all employees of the new regulations, and must display the proper "no-smoking" signs.
Authorised officers of local councils will enforce the new smokefree law. Employers who do not display the required signs at all entrances to their in premises or in vehicles face a £200 fixed penalty or a fine up to £1000; those who fail to prevent smoking can face fines of up to £2500. Persons who smoke in no-smoking premises or vehicles face a fixed penalty of £50 or a fine up to £200.
Employers are not required to provide external shelters for smokers.
More information including details of the required location and size of signs, plus downloadable signs in multiple languages: SmokeFree Action and Smokefree England
Practice action
Practices are required to display No Smoking signs and must also have a Smoking Policy. Subscribers to the Members section of this website can download a draft Smoking (Staff) Policy and a draft Smoking (Patients & Public) Policy
